Business View Magazine l November 2022

153 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 9, ISSUE 11 Although Casper is a city of almost 60,000, Ford Wyoming Center was built to accommodate a much larger population. General Manager Brad Murphy acknowledges, “The venue was built to service a community of 100,000 to 125,000. We have not grown that much, but we still provide a much-needed service to our state. We are in the center of the state, and we have the only international airport in Wyoming,” Murphy explains.“So, we’ve been able to capture those state types of events.” Some of those events include all of Wyoming’s indoor state high school tournaments including marching band, volleyball, state spirit, wrestling, and two weeks of basketball. Murphy adds, “So that’s really a huge thing for us. Our other staple event is the College National Finals Rodeo, which is always the third week of June. That’ll be in its 22nd year this year.” Involvement in the local community is a priority, with Ford Wyoming Center participating in fundraisers for agencies such as The Boys and Girls Club, Mercer House, and the Children’s Development Center. Community involvement also occurs through the economic contribution the center provides for the city, as Murphy suggests, “It’s about what we can do to improve our community, not only from a cultural and entertainment standpoint but also from an economic boost as well. Some of the biggest acts have played in the Ford Wyoming Center/Casper Events Center. Garth Brooks has played there, Carrie Underwood, Eric Church, and Elton John. So, it had some of the biggest entertainers of all time.” Other major events include a popular arts and crafts show which brings close to 8000 people through the doors and into the community every fall. November of 2022 will also see the combining of an annual Booze and Bacon Festival with the FORD WYOMING CENTER